The Truth About Hydration

Veronica Blanar for Transform PT. 8 October, 2017

Have you ever wondered if and why it matters how much water you drink, and whether you drink enough or not?

Water is important for our bodies to function well – that’s a fact – no brainer. Water aids digestion and blood flow, and helps our bodies to regulate their temperature. When our bodies lack liquid, our brain sends out a signal to telling us that we are thirsty. Following our thirst we drink liquids to replenishing and balance our bodies. With dehydration our kidneys release less fluid hence why our urine looks darker and more concentrated.

You are probably more aware of your hydration during exercise such as running, hiking, cycling, during your holiday in a tropical destination or during an extra hot summer day. These, however should not be the only times we need to make sure our bodies are hydrated. Hydration should be a habit.

What Happens To Me When I’m Dehydrated?

We lose fluids through sweating, urinating, and breathing. We experience feelings of dehydration when our bodies are losing too much fluid. First of all you may experience fatigue, dizziness, headaches, lack of concentration and decrease in performance. Whether that is working behind computer or participating in a physical activity.

Your body is more efficient when hydrated. Not enough water in your system leads to fatigue and decreases our brain’s function, which can result in bad decision-making and concentration problems. Combine these two and your chances of injury during physical activities increase.

Water is essential for our health due to providing nutrients for our body and also eliminating toxins no longer needed in our systems. If we don’t drink enough water, we may contribute to and experience long term problems. For example, shrinking of our brain cells over time which can lead to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. So yes, hydration is crucial for our health!

How Much Water Do I Need?

The amount of fluids you need will depend on a number of aspects – such as your diet, the climate you live in, your age and the amount of physical activity you do throughout the day.

The body temperature also plays a role. If you are overheated – you sweat, it is a part of normal metabolic function. So the more heated up your body is the more water your body will lose. High temperatures, humidity and even layers of clothing can increase your body’s water loss. For example, during an intense workout in the heat, you can lose a shocking 90 ounces (2 to 3 liters) of water – per hour!

We can estimate what would be the right amount of fluid for you based on your personal needs. Hurry and act NOW! Book your free consultation…

How Often Should I Drink?

We recommended to drink water at regular intervals. Why? Simply because hyper-hydration (chugging down 500ml of water at once) can cause bloating, nausea and even vomiting. Moreover, it can suppress thirst — causing further dehydration.

You probably heard the ‘drink eight 8 glasses of water a day’ rule. Mostly people can stay hydrated by drinking fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough, while for others not enough.

If you struggle to kick in the new habit of drinking water – get in touch! We will be happy to help!

Tips To Keep You Hydrated

• Bottle It Up

Put a bottle of water where you can see it (on your work desk, in the car, …) or carry it with you wherever you go to create a new habit. Just as most of us have snacks all over our work desk that we keep snacking on – even when we are not hungry, the same way we will drink our waters if they are always around.

• Eat Hydrating Foods

We get lots of fluid from the foods we eat. Some foods contain more water than others, for example fruits and vegetables are especially good source of liquid.

• Boost Your Water

Do you not enjoy taste of water? Try going for filtered water rather than tap water or try adding slices of fruit or herbs. You can experiment with adding some lemon, apples, berries, mint, kiwi, ginger, cucumber or thyme into your water not only for a better taste but also for some extra vitamins.

For most of us – adults by drinking liquids when we experience thirst and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables should keep your hydration levels in check.

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